Risen Church Nc

In our final message in our "On Loan" series, we once more connect the dots between our commitment to God now and our capacity for all He has for us in the next life. We look one of Jesus' most famous sermons, where He reminds us that we all will lose this life one day, and He urges us to lose it for a purpose. This raises the question, if we know we're going to lose it one day, why not give it away for a cause that will make a significant, kingdom-difference? Jesus equates following Him to bearing a cross and having a willingness and an eagerness to give this life away. But what did He mean by "losing this life" or "giving our lives away"? Many were anxious to know, especially after He promised that those who follow Him gain early access into God's kingdom activity. Jesus made it very clear what it meant to bear our cross and surrender our lives to God. He made it all about loving God and loving others, as He would demonstrate with His own cross. He even said that our love for God is demonstrated by and v

Jesus instilled in the hearts and minds of the early church that the Kingdom of God was very near. We are all created by God and we are all headed back to Him. Our time on earth is just temporary. We are all like sojourners or exiles, awaiting our entrance into God's Kingdom. Our current reality is merely preparation for our eternal future. The early Christians took this framework and ran with it, and modeled their entire lives around it. The Apostle Peter wrote to the early church and couched his message and motivation around this idea of exile. He wrote that we are all strangers in a strange land, and will one day give an account for how we lived out our temporary stay. In this message, Peter calls on all of us to live each day with eternity in mind. He reaches back into the Old Testament and echoes the words of Moses, calling the people of God to consider His Will in every area of our lives. He invokes that there is a healthy sense of fear we all should possess so that we would not waste our one and only

We all respond to responsibilities in this life differently. Some of us take great amounts of pride in our work and are very possessive over that which belongs to us. In other cases, we are more passive and less concerned about what we should do. All of this falls under the presumption that we answer to no one for our lives and we can do as we please. But if our lives don't really belong to us... If all that we are and all that we have is borrowed and on loan from our Creator... then we cannot escape this eternal accountability and responsibility. The Bible makes it very clear, as creatures made by God, we are all called to be stewards of a life that is from Him and will one day return to Him. In this message, we discuss the subject of stewardship and what it means to be entrusted with God's gifts. The last sermon that Jesus ever preached deals with this very matter, as He looks forward to a judgement day to come, when all of God's servants will give an account for what they did with their lives. Will w

Having established how important the local church is to every Christian, Paul begins addressing some of the problems persisting within the church at Corinth. He's made it clear that every body has a vital role to play in the Body of Christ, and thus we cannot separate individual selves from the whole, and vice versa. Beginning in chapter 5, Paul admonishes the Corinthians how they ought to react to sin and respond to sinners within the Church. He confronts their apparent arrogance and indifference towards one individuals' sin, and identifies the proper response of a compassionate, sincere Christian. In this message, we unpack this and much more, and learn the right approach when caring for our brother and sister in Christ. We discuss the importance of our gathering in the power of the Spirit, and giving place to God to sovereignly tend to both the wheats and tares of His field. Our goal with this conversation is to have a sober understanding of sin, its effects on the us and our church family, and a commi

What would life be like if we lived from an understanding that everything - including us - is borrowed and on loan from God? What would life look like if we lived as if nothing really belonged to us, and would one day go back to God? In this introduction to a series all about this premise, we consider how all of our lives come from God, exist for Him, and will one day return to Him. The Bible has much to say on this matter, but we take our initial inspiration from the story of Hannah and her son, Samuel. They set a precedent for us all to follow regarding our beginning and our inevitable end. Listen and consider what life could be like back in the hands, resting in the hands, and led by the hands of the One who made you.

After addressing how each of us individually will be judged for our service to Christ, Paul tells us that we will also be held accountable for our participation in the Body of Christ. He calls us the New Temple of God, echoing the words of Jesus that the gathering of God's people becomes His dwelling place. How we treat God's Temple - Christ's Body - is crucial in our Christian service. From here, Paul teaches on the importance of every church member developing a healthy relationship with those in leadership over them. He stresses that a mutual trust and integrity across pulpits and pews is key for a healthy Church. Ultimately, it all comes down to everyone fulfilling their obligation to be faithful. In this message, we discuss what it means to be faithful to Christ's Body and learn to respect the institution and community that is God is building. If we are all faithful, the church can reach its full potential and be full of divine possibility. As we find our place and become rooted in Christ's body, and

What if our greatest weakness turned out to be our unexpected ally? What if God doesn't remove them because He chooses to use them to remind us of Him? While we often conceal our weaknesses, Jesus invites us to bring them to Him. In those moments we are discouraged, distracted, or tempted, we can actually be reminded of God's grace and power. It's in our weakest moments that we can be full of God's power. Until we are honest about our weaknesses, we can never take hold of this power. Jesus promises us that there is no weakness that He cannot provide strength for. From now on, as we face our struggles, we can embrace the grace and power of God. From now on, we can see every weakness as an unexpected ally.

In our look at 1 Corinthians 3 we discuss: - The Spiritual Nature vs the Fleshly Nature: There is a vast difference between God and everyone else. He is higher and greater and above us all. Apart from Him, we are helpless and hopeless in our sin. However, Jesus and His Cross bring salvation to us all. In Him, we can be revived from sin and regenerated by His Spirit. Our fleshly nature still lingers, but if we rest in Christ and rely on Him alone we can overcome and thrive. - What is our most primal expression of our fleshly nature: In Corinth, the people were held back by their spiritual immaturity and lack of growth. This is why there was a great deal of jealousy, animosity, and competitiveness amidst the church. We discuss how it is from this place that our flesh stunts our growth the most. - What's Now impacts what's Next: Paul implores the Corinthians to rest firm on their one and only foundation, and build towards eternity. He breaks down how we will all be judged for what we did with our salvation.

In our final look at Ezekiel's unique, unexpected, yet transformative experience with God, we step into the Valley of Dry Bones. In this vision, Ezekiel's difficult ministry met its most devastating scene yet. In spite of all the hope he had been given by God, how could Israel come back from this? How was he supposed to motivate the remnant after seeing this? At this point, nobody would've blamed Ezekiel for giving up. Much like our own struggles and losses, giving up seems like the only logical choice sometimes. However, God used this to instill an even greater confidence in Ezekiel. In the midst of this valley, God asked him if he was going to give up or look up. He asked Ezekiel if his faith was still alive, even if his previous dreams were not. Would he choose to believe that there was still hope? In this message, we wrestle with the difficult and challenges that many of us have faced in this life. We reflect on the times we've considered giving up, but collectively we look up and hear God's Word of

Paul made it clear in 1 Corinthians 1 that we all come to Christ, seeking God's glory and His Body's good. In the next chapter, he uses his own approach to preaching as an example for everyone to follow in their participation in the Church. He states that he always handles God's Word, and by extension, he conducts his life through the lens of Christ and Him crucified. Paul tells the Corinthians that his ambition is always driven by Jesus and His Cross. In this message, we discuss how this mantra should influence how we hear, read, and handle God's Word. As we extract truth from God's Word, we take on wisdom that can transform our lives. If we are seeking and savoring Jesus and learning the way of His Cross, we are gaining true, practical, spiritual power. We also discuss how this is often contrary to how many read and interpret God's Word, with their own agendas in mind. As the old hymn says, "The Way of the Cross leads home." God has given us everything we need in His Word to prepare us and empower us

Salvation often gets reduced down to an insurance plan, to being bailed out of trouble and whatever consequences that we may have coming. However, Christian Salvation is much more than that. Our salvation is a redeeming work of God. Redemption evokes buying something back that has been lost. In Christ, God has bought us all back from sin and desires to bring us back to life. Like with some things for sale in this world, we often question our own worth. In the eyes of God, we are worth a great price - and in the hands of God, we gain a great purpose. In this message, we consider the true nature of our salvation and discuss the hope and beauty of redemption. Our God doesn't waste anything and He is looking to redeem every aspect of our lives. What we may think has been a waste, God is able and willing to turn around for His glory. Like He promised Ancient Israel, He has a better plan than to simply keep bailing us out. He has a redemption plan. From Him, we can receive a new heart, a new spirit, and a new

The first item on Paul's lengthy agenda in 1 Corinthians is the subject of unity and division. He addresses this first, because the mission of the Church was so very contingent on the ambition of the Church. The people at Corinth were dividing up into factions, quarreling with each other over what made one right and righteous. Paul quickly reminded them about the Cross. Each faction was boasting of their beliefs and positions, but their posture and behavior were far from Christian. If we are to fulfill our role as the Body of Christ, we must always bear His cross. The way of the cross, is a lifestyle of humility and selflessness. This is where the power of God is found, because this is where Jesus is found. We cannot find our glory in what we know or what we bring, but rather in what God has done. If we all bow at the cross and bear the cross, we will live up to our name. If we keep the cross at the center of our church, if we unite together around the cross - we will constantly be reminded of the equal

The nation of Israel was in disbelief about their situation in exile, but God raised up the prophet Ezekiel to shine a different light on their circumstances. In this message, we hear how God is always working in our lives so that we might know Him in a personal, intimate way. Ezekiel invites us to see our lives, specifically our defining moments as entry points into the Kingdom of God - as opportunities to know God fully. As with Israel, sometimes God has to pry us loose of this world so that we might get closer to Heaven. Thus, when it seems our world's are turned upside down, they are actually being turned right-side up. *Apologies again for poor audio quality*

The demands and ways of true, Biblical Christianity fly in the face of the desires and ways of culture. There is a temptation to dilute what the Bible teaches and the movement that Jesus started, but we risk jettisoning the salvation we so desperately need. In this message, God invites us into the discomfort zone so that we might find true, abundant, eternal life. What we first resist for fear of cost and loss, soon takes on a new light when we realize what is actually on the line.

This message is an introduction to our 1 Corinthians study, with some important context about the circumstances that led to the Corinth church plant and the pressure it would have been under from its secular culture. Listen as we discover how Paul's word to Corinth is just as relevant to the Church in today's world as it was so many years ago. In many ways, the spirit of selfishness that sought to tempt and divide the Church at Corinth is even more prevalent and potent in our current age. Thankfully, Paul's appeal about the true gift of the local church and how it helps us realize our faith to its fullest extent shows us the way to navigate this pressure. In this intro, we discuss key topics like discipleship and fellowship, unity and the true nature of Christ's Body. *Apologies for poor audio recording. Master file was lost, and this is the backup file*

Everything that Ezekiel had ever anticipated and prepared for unraveled right before his eyes, when he and many others were taken captive by Babylon. All he had ever known was serving God in and around the temple and his chance to be part of the priesthood ripped away. He along with the entire nation, couldn't even imagine how to serve God in these circumstances. Much to Ezekiel's surprise, God appears to him in captivity and shows him a purpose that would far exceed the "normal" life he could have had. God tells Ezekiel that he would still be a priest set apart for His Kingdom and be a prophet called to stand out for Him. God invites him into an experience like none other. In this series, we will learn how Ezekiel experienced God in unexpected, yet marvelous ways. In this introduction, hear how Ezekiel begins to see the Glory of God amidst the ruin of his circumstances.

In this conclusion to our series, "Ready, Set, Go", we discuss the history of the Church and consider why we continue in traditions from thousands of years ago. We hear from God's Word about the power of God that is at work when we cling to His Kingdom's promises and deflect this world's alternative, inferior invitations. We trace it all back to Jesus, how He displayed the wonders of Heaven, yet demonstrated a radical approach to life here on earth. He stared death and the devil in the eye, and didn't blink. What appeared a foolish decision on His part, was actually the apex of the power of God. As we commit to following God and doing things His way, we revel in the foolishness of the cross and glory in God's greater path. We know that we will experience His power through it all and in eternity to come.

The book of Romans is a masterful presentation and summation of the Gospel. It takes us from condemnation to salvation, and details every possible layer regarding humanity's stance with God. Specifically, Romans teaches us what salvation does for us and tells us what we should do with our salvation. In our study, we've heard Paul teach on justification and sanctification, showing us how our lives change in Christ. He makes it very clear how we should be transformed as believers and how this directs our path in service to our King and His Kingdom. It's only fitting that Paul concludes Romans by recognizing some of the key people, who in their own service to Christ, made such an impact on him. In Romans 16, Paul gives special attention to more than two dozen relatively unknown saints who he credits as instrumental in his ministry. In this message, we take time to appreciate those who gave their lives for the work of Jesus Christ, His Church and His Kingdom. We seek to understand how they became immortaliz

As Paul reflects on his overall message to the Roman Church and looks back across his ministry in general, he invites us to consider how we are participating and delighting in the plan of God. The Church age is the culmination of thousands of years of preparation by God and His chosen, to bring the whole world under Him. Paul took great joy in being part of the realization of this plan, and longed to live a life that glorified God and further enlarged His fame over the world. He invites us to follow in this same path, and find the true joy available in a life wholly devoted to the glory of God.

Jesus came from Heaven to Earth on a mission. He wasted no time and cut no corners in proclaiming the high stakes nature of His invitation. To miss out on what He was offering, would be eternally costly. He also made it clear that choosing to pursue Him and finding a relationship with God would be the most rewarding experience obtainable. God has spared nothing to redeem us, so it's not extreme to suggest that we should spare nothing to take hold of all that He has for us. Jesus proclaimed that "Everything was ready". The question that looms over us is, "Are we ready?" Are we following Him and enjoying the life available to us? If not, what are we waiting on?